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| Cla Knight of North Augusta, SC celebrates winning his second Fastrak Pro Late Model Championship with his family and crew at Lavonia Speedway in Lavonia, GA on November 20. Knight made Fastrak history in 2016 by becoming the first driver to win the Southeast Region and Mid-Ohio Valley Region Championships in the same season driving the Augusta Aquatics Longhorn. (Photo By Jule Coffee ) |
SAVANNAH, GA – The 2016 Fastrak Pro Late Model Southeast and Mid-Ohio Valley Champion Cla Knight of North Augusta, SC will be one of the top entrants at the $10,000-to-win 19th Annual Showdown In Savannah for Crate Late Models this Thursday through Saturday at Oglethorpe Speedway Park.
Knight is a driver that has come into his own in the second half of the 2016 season with wins and top five finishes in some of the biggest Crate Late Model Races in the Southeastern United States. Knight made Fastrak history this season by becoming the first driver to win both the Southeast Region and the Mid-Ohio Valley Region Championships in the same season.
“After winning the Rookie of the Year and placing fourth in points in two Regions last year, to back it up with Championships in both Regions made it a fun and satisfying season,” Knight said. “This season, I had more experience with a full notebook from the 2015 season to take back to tracks, we upgraded our equipment, and I made better decisions as a driver.”
Knight won four Fastrak Weekly Racing Series events in 2016, but he seemed to come into his own during the Labor Day Weekend three-race Fastrak East Coast Rumble. Knight opened the trio of races with a Regional win at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, TN, and then followed that up with his second win in three days at Wythe Raceway in Wytheville, VA.
In two trips to East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City, AL, Knight finished fourth in the Alabama State Championship Race in October, and followed that up with a second-place finish in the National 100 in November. Knight has experience, and more importantly, success at Oglethorpe Speedway Park.
“I like Oglethorpe Speedway Park and I’ve had some good runs there in the past,” Knight said. “I’ve got a lot of top three finishes there and I finished second last year in the Showdown In Savannah. We run a different compound of tire at the Showdown than we run with Fastrak, so I’m looking forward to getting down there on Thursday to get everything dialed in.”
Knight will face some tough competition for the 19th Annual Showdown In Savannah. Top entrants will include World of Outlaw hot shoe Brandon Overton of Anderson, SC, who will be driving for former Showdown winning car owner Bobby Kay who had Tuck Trentham driving. Superman Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, GA will also be looking for the $10,000 top prize.
The defending Showdown In Savannah winner Cecil Eunice of Blackshear, GA will return to defend his title. Also entered is Kyle Bronson of Brandon, FL, Robert Diekemper of Bloomingdale, GA, Travis Pennington of Stapleton, GA, and Mark Whitener of Middleburg, FL.
Along with the Crate Late Models, the Super Stocks and the Super 4s will be in action for the 19th Annual Showdown In Savannah with each Division competing in a 50-lap $5,000-to-win main event. The Mini Stocks and Pure Stocks will each compete for 20 Laps and $1,500-to-win in their respective main events. The Amateur 4 Division will also be in action with a 10-lap main event each night.
The Crate Late Models are powered by economical Chevrolet Performance 604 Circle Track Engines that are built and sealed at the factory to prevent any expensive modifications. Kelcar Motorsports will provide the personnel to scrutinize the Crate Engines and collect tire samples in the Tech Area during the post-race inspection.
The Showdown In Savannah gives race fans an opportunity to see big track racing on a dirt surface, as Oglethorpe Speedway Park is the last standing half-mile dirt track in South Georgia and North Florida. There have other dirt tracks in each area that have been half-mile in length, but they have either reduced in length or closed. Only OSP has stood the test of time as a half-mile race track.
The on track action begins on Thursday night, December 1 with an Open Practice Session. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. with practice from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Pit passes are $20 for adults, $10 for children 12 and under, and Grandstand admission will be $5.
Friday night action will feature Qualifying and Heat Races as preliminary events for the big show. The Mini Stocks and Pure Stocks will run Heat and Feature Races on Friday night. Gates open at 5 p.m. with Hot Laps and Qualifying for Crate Late Models and Super Stocks will be at 6:15 p.m. Racing action is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Pit passes on Friday night will be $30 for Adults and $15 for children 12 and under. General Admission Grandstand tickets will be $15 for Adults, $13 for Seniors and Military, and $5 for children 12 and under.
Saturday night will see B-Main races and the big money feature events. Gates open at 4:30 p.m., with Hot Laps at 6:20 p.m. and Racing scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Pit passes are $40 for Adults and $20 for Children 12 and younger. The Grandstand ticket prices are $20 for Adults, $18 for Seniors and Military, and $5 for children 12 and under.
Oglethorpe Speedway Park is located Northwest of Savannah, GA at 200 Jesup Road, Pooler, GA 31322, or three miles east of I-95 at Exit 102 on U.S. Highway 80. For more information call 912-964-8200, or visit them online at www.ospracing.net. You can also like their Facebook page at Oglethorpe Speedway Park.
